Two-year ban on players who refuse Sri Lanka Cricket contracts

Sri Lanka's sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that his ministry will impose a ban on athletes who do not sign contracts with national sport bodies.

The minister referred to Lasith Malinga as the reason for this new policy.

"I am a great follower of fast bowler Lasith Malinga but that does not mean that I condone all his actions," Aluthgamage told Sri Lanka's Sunday Times newspaper.

"We have taken the cue from Malinga. In future, if sportspersons who are performing at national level fail to sign their central contracts with their specific sports bodies we will slap a two-year ban on them."

"This is a trend that we must nip in the bud. I find fault with the administrators for not getting tough on the players," the minister added.

"For instance, in the contract it is stipulated that a cricketer must be in the country at least two weeks prior to a tour. But, most of the cricketers who were engaged in the IPL returned to the island only a few days before the Pakistan tour. Yet, the SLC officials have not taken any action against anyone. As I understand, most of them still even have not signed their central contracts. That’s bad.

“However, in the future, sportspersons engaged in any discipline at national level and do not sign the central contract will face the two-year ban."

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) cannot present new contracts to players this year, as they have been unable to honour contract payments from the previous contract period. The dire financial crisis at SLC has meant that the cricket board still owes players several months in back pay.

Aluthgamage is yet to initiate any investigation into the conduct of government-appointed cricket board officials who left SLC in nearly US$ 70 million in debt after co-hosting the World Cup last year.

Furthermore, the cricket board also earns a significant sum from their Indian counterparts for allowing Sri Lankan players to participate in India's T20 tournament - the IPL.

Interestingly, Malinga told Island Cricket in April that the Sri Lankan media, who claimed he had refused to sign a contract, had got it wrong. According to the Sri Lankan paceman, he has not been offered a contract to refuse.

"No contracts have been offered yet for this year for any of the players," Malinga said.

"But whether I decide to play with or without [a] contract, does not really matter as I am still 100-percent available for selection for all ODI and T20 commitments for Sri Lanka just like I was last year."

Although there was no outcry or opposition from Sri Lankan journalists, the sports ministry or SLC officials last year; Malinga played as a non-contracted player from March 2011 to February 2012.

In addition, SLC intends on introducing a clause in their new contracts that prevents non-contracted players from using any of SLC facilities, including SLC-owned gyms and nets.

Comments

What the hell is wrong with these guys. 2 Year ban for not signing a stupid contract. Ok how about not honoring the oath you gave when you took the office as a politician? What about stealing money from the community? How about threatening civilians with violence? what about all the lies they tell on TV? whats the ban for that?

Malinga is not stealing from anyone, as a cricket fan I will be sad if malinga decides not to play for our country. BUT! he has all the right to select, its his talent, he worked hard for that talent and he deserves all the right to select what he wants to do.

This is like asking all our university graduates (Who were given a free education from grade 1) to sign a contract with the government forbidding the graduates from taking better, MORE PAYING jobs abroad.

Eat what is left also .... all these are idiots. Whatever they did to ruin the Cricket Board ... now they are trying to cover up with Cricketers ... they not paid for a year and played without salary .... this idiot can't even remember that

Malinga has very clearly said he play cricket only for money, and proved that by giving away 96 runs in 7.4 overs against India. The king of yorkers offered chain of full tosses to Indian batsmen. so it is better letting him make money by leaving him from national duties.

Has the SLC honoured the players' previous contracts? Non payment of dues to SL cricketers is now a world news.Is the sports minister once again going to ORDER bank of Ceylon(his grand father's personal property) to pay them. Is he trying to force senior cricketers for early retirement from National duty?

Yes minister! First of all you should be ashamed to have come to the parliament by fraudulent election win. Nawalapiity election result release was postponed for two months for malpractices. And you were declared the winner for your are MR man.

Secondly Malinga is rightly worried about his health. How many times was he left out of the team due to injury. Some times for a year he was incapable of playing. He is a fast bowler and most good fast bowlers came and went withing a few years. Malinga intelligently wants avoid that and has elected to play for the shorter versions only where he does not have to keep on bowling for long spells. It is purely to extend his cricketing life.

What is wrong in it? Everybody has the right to take any decision about him/herself.

If you go ahead with this decision one of the two can happen.
Either another country will take Malinga, or he can go to the human rights court of justice!

What a situation we have in our country. Really, some ministers are insane!

Another try to enforce authoritarian laws to citizen. Politicians and their goons can rob the country, silence or kill anyone oppose. Its shame cricket players are not paid for months, shame other sports going down the drain due to lack of funds. But to promote Commenwealth games, govt sent a 70 member group (holiday in Carribic on tax payers money) This moron minister was in CB finalin Aust.(with family ???). Sri Lanka has gone to dogs. Sad.